William J. Lawson Sr., 83 MILTON - William J. Lawson Sr., of Milton, passed away Sunday, Aug. 31, 2008, at Beebe Medical Center. He was 83. William was born in Lincoln, son of the late Lester Paul and Sarah Emma (Lofland) Lawson. He was a mechanical engineer and entrepreneur. William developed and designed many machines to aid in the production of numerous industry products. He always loved a designing and building challenge and had received many patents for those designs. William was instrumental in numerous businesses including Plasto Products and Lawson Brothers Machine Design and Construction. He most recently, along with his son Gary, owned and operated National Screen from 1985 until his recent retirement. He was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corp. He served during World War II in the Philippines and was honorably discharged, with the rank of Sergeant, in 1945. William was a founding member of the Broadkill VFW Post 6984 in Milton. In addition to his parents, William is preceded in death by his wife, Phyllis (Wilkerson) Lawson; a sister, Ella Donovan; and brother, Lester "Dickie"Lawson. He is survived by six children, Gary Lawson and wife Lydia of Georgetown, Bill Lawson and wife Pat of Milton, Bob Lawson and wife Clara of Greenwood, Rick Lawson and wife Betty of Arkansas, Carol Lazartic and husband Steve of Newark, and Linda Shufelt of Milton; 16 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Hattie McBroom of Baltimore. A funeral service will be 1 p.m. Thursday in the chapel of Short Funeral Services, 416 Federal Street, Milton, where friends may call after noon. Burial will be in Odd Fellows Cemetery, Milton.